The number of workers onsite peaked at more than 1.650 during the construction phase and 90 highly-qualified, permanent operation and maintenance jobs created.
Abengoa(MCE: ABG.B), the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, inaugurated the Castilla-La Mancha Solar Complex, located in the Ciudad Real municipalities of Arenas de San Juan, Villarta de San Juan and Puerto Lapice.
Mª Dolores de Cospedal, President of Castilla-La Mancha, presided over the event. Accompanying her were José B. Terceiro, Executive Vice-Chairman; Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar; Marta García de la Calzada, Castilla-La Mancha Minister of Development; Alberto Sánchez Úbeda, Mayor of Arenas de San Juan; Felicia Bascuñana Úbeda, Mayor of Villarta de San Juan and María Jesús López Villamayor, Mayor of Puerto Lápice. After the inaugural act, the guests toured the installation with complex employees, where they learned how concentrating solar power technology functions.
The Castilla-La Mancha Solar Complex is made up of two identical 50 MW parabolic trough plants. The parabolic trough technology consists of a field of collectors that follow the movement of the sun and whose parabolic shaped mirrors concentrate the sun’s rays on receiver tubes that run through the focal point of the trough. In these tubes, the heat transfer fluid heats to approximately 400˚C. This hot fluid circulates through heat exchangers and produces steam. The steam is then used to generate electricity using a conventional steam turbine.
In line with Abengoa’s commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment, the operation of the solar complex will provide a significant reduction in fuel and energy consumption and will prevent 63,000 tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere each year.
The solar complex has also brought numerous social and economic benefits to the Castilla-La Mancha community, such as the 1,650 construction jobs and the 90 direct permanent jobs for the operation and maintenance of the plant. Local manufacturing of components also has a positive impact on the region’s economy.
With the inauguration of this solar complex, Abengoa strengthens its position as the international leader in concentrating solar power development and innovation. Abengoa designs, builds and operates its own plants, using both the parabolic trough and solar tower technologies, and currently has 743 MW in operation and 910 MW in construction throughout the world.